Humidifier.



W. S. HADAWAY, JR.

HUMIDIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1913 1,1,54,1 1 3. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. HADAWAY,- J R., OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

HUMIDIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,764.

To all whom z'zifmay concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HAoAwA r, J12, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of'New Rochelle, in the county of West-' chester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Humidifiers, of which the following is a vices of like character for adding moisture independent of tion.

to the surrounding atmosphere.

One object ofmy invention is to provide a simple and durable device of this character, that shall be susceptible of Very careful adjustment and regulation.

Another object of'i'ny invention is to pro vide a device of the aforesaid character that shall be arranged to float on the surface of the liquid to be vaporized, and thereby be external support, other than the liquid.

It is frequently desirable to increase the humidity of the atmosphere of a room or 10- cality in order that it may be more comfortable and healthful for the occupants of the room or better adapted to maintain the tone values of musical instruments, as for example a pipe organ.

While my invention is capable of general application, it is particularly adapted for the aforesaid purposes.

Referring to the drawing,Figure l is a sectional elevation of a device arranged and constructed in accordance with my inven A modified arrangement which is adapted to float and be sustained by a body of liquid, is shown in end elevation in Fig.

2 and in plan'view in Fig. 3. A detall view of the heating element of the device shown in Fig. 1, with a portion of the casing broken away to disclose the interior construction, is shown in Fig. 4. v

Like characters of reference designate corresponding-parts in all the figures.

With special reference to the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 4,1O is a tank or receptacle having an inlet pipe 11 entering its bottom, a float valve 12 controlling the inlet, a float 13 governing the inlet valve, to maintain the body of liquid 14 at a substantially constant level in the tank, an overflow 15 and an electric heater 20. The float valve operates in the usual manner. The electric heater 20 comprises a sheet metal casing in My invention relates to humidifiers or de-- the form of a rod or bar which is secured to one wall of the tank at 21 and extends horizontally inward. Within the casing, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, is a resistance ribbon 22, and insulating strips 23. The ends of the ribbon extend to the terminals 24 which are supported outside of the tank by a pro]ection 25 of the sheath which extends through the wall of the tank into a terminal cap26. The heater 20 is above the surface of the liquid and is providedwith wicks 30 which engage the surface of the heater and extend downwardly into the liquid in the tank. When even a small amount of electric energy is supplied to the heater, vapor is immediately given off from the upper part of the wicks which are in contact with the heater, more liquid being supplied by capillary action from the body of liquid 14 in the tank as required. One of the great advantages of this arrangement arises from the fact that the humidifier is instantly responsive to the energy, both in starting and stopping and consequently may be utilized with any well known form of automatic humidification regulators to maintain a constant humidity in the surrounding atmosphere.

Referring to the structure of Figs. 2 and 3, which may be considered preferable and has the advantage of being adapted for use in an ornamental receptacle, such as a vase or jar without necessitating changes to'be made therein, a pair of electric heaters 85 and 36 are secured to and are adapted to be supported by afloat 37 which is located between them. The arrangement of parts is such that the heaters are maintained above thetsurface of the water or other body of liquid on which the device is floated. Conthrough tubes .38 and 39 into the float where they areconnected to aflexible cord 40 or other suitable line conductor which extends through a bushing 41 in the top of the float. Each of the heaters comprises a sheath and otherwise corresponds to the heater 20 except in the position of the leads. A plurality of wicks 30 are suspendedfrom the heaters 35 and 36 and extend downwardly into the body of liquid'upon which the device is floated as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is important to maintain a substantially constant relation between the level of the liquid and the heater in order that the wicks may always be partially immersed In the arrangement of Fig.1, this is accomplished by the float 13 which governs the height of the liquid in the tank or receptable. The fioat 37 which forms a part of the device of Figs. 2 and 3, serves to hold the heater ata fixed position relative to the'surface-of the liquid.

The structures constituting the subject matter of this application are covered broadly by the claims of my co-pending ap plication Serial No. 796761 filed of even date herewith.

Variations in size and arrangement of parts may be effected within the spirit and scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A humidifier comprising a heater, a capillary agent adapted to gradually transfer small quantities of liquid from a relatively large body of liquid to the heater, and means for maintaining the heater at a substantially constant distance above the surface of the large body of liquid.

2. A humidifier comprising a heater, a wick adapted to transferv liquid from a relatively large body of liquid to the heater and means for maintaining a substantially constant. relation between the position of the heaterand the surface of the large body of liquid, whereby the wick may dip into the iquid.

3. A humidifier comprising an electric heater having a metal sheath, a wick suspended from. the sheath and arranged to transfer liquid to the heater and a float for maintaining a fixed relation, between the position of the heater liquid. I

4. A humidifier comprising a heater, 0. float adapted to support the heater above the and the surface of the are secured, adapted to support the heaters in a horizontal position above the surface of a. liquid and a plurality of wicks suspended in contact with the heaters and w dipping into the liquid to transfer liquid to the heater.

7. A humidifier comprising a pair of spaced heaters, a float to which the heaters are secured, adapted to support the heaters in a horizontal position above the surface of a liquid and wi'cks suspended in contact with the heaters and dipping into the liquid to transfer liquid to the heaters.

8. A humidifier comprising ahcatcr, a

float adapted to support the heater above the liquid level thereof and means for tra'nsfer ring liquid to the heater by capillary action.

9. A humidifier comprising an electric heater. a float adapted to'support the heater above the liquid level thereof and means for transferringliquid to the heater by capillary action.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of October in the year 1913.

WILLIAM s. HADAWAY, JR.

Witnesses:

G. R. QUIMBY, F. B. GRAVES. 

